Francine weakened to a tropical storm late Wednesday after striking Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane, causing power outages for over 275,000 homes and businesses. The storm surge rushed into coastal communities, raising flood fears in New Orleans and beyond as heavy rains spread over the northern Gulf Coast.
The National Hurricane Center forecasted Francine to be downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved northward over Mississippi. Forecasters warned of potential scattered flash flooding in areas such as Jackson, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, Tennessee; and Atlanta, with 4 to 6 inches of rain expected in some regions.
